Apparatus for sintering fine ore.



.No. 853,433. v PATENTBD MAY 14, 1907.

J. G. BERGQULST. APPARATUS FOR SINTERING FINE ORE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 21, 1905. RENEWED OUT. 19, 1906.

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'PATENTED MAY 14, 1907. J. G. BBRGQUIST. APPARATUS FOR SINTERING FINE ORB. APPLICATION FILED DEG. 21, 190 5. RENEWED OUT. 19, 1906:

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. ffomz m I lodging from the interior of the furnace by -.JonN c. BERGQUIST, or -oHIcAGo,-

TERING COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILL

ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN SIN- INOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS,

APPARATUS FOR SINTERING FIIN'E one.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1907.

application filed December 21,1906. Renewed October 19,1906. Serial Il'o. 339.701.

To aZZ-whom it may concern:

' Be it known that 1, JOHN G. BERGQUIST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illi- 1101s, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Sinter'ing' Fine Ore, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to" improvements in a paratus for sintering fine ore, and among t e salient obj ects of the invention are to provide an apparatus adapted for continuously carrying out the process of sintering ore, the ore being fed into one end of'the furnace and discharged at the other; to provide insuch an apparatus means for regularly'dismechanical means the fused and semi-fused material which tends to adhere to the walls of the furnace; to provide for the purpose last mentioned a continuously moving and endless scraper mechanism, the scraping member of which alternately passes through the furnace and a cooling medium outside of the furnace; to provide in a furnace of the general character referred to, a construction which enables ready access to be had to the interior both of that portion in which the preliminarystep or steps'of the process is carried out and in that portion in which the actual fusingis accomplished, without interrupting the which enables either ulverized or fluid fuel to be used and intro uced continuously; to provide an improved construction and arrangement of the auxiliary mechanism whereby the material to be acted upon and the operation of the apparatus; to rovide in such a furnace a construction certain parts being shown in section, of an apparatus constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention Fig. 2 is atransverse sectional view'taken' on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of thearrows; Fig. 3 is'a longitudinal axial section through the lower delivery end of the furnace body and the wheeled removable closure which closes the latter; -Figs.' 4, 5and 6 details of the scraper chain.

An a paratus embodying my invention is adapte for use for sintering either fiuedust derived from blast furnaces or forsinte'ring fine iron ore h'aving the same general characteristics as flue dust. It has been found in practice that such ores can be sintered, i. 'e. agglomerated, ilnto lumps of' a size suitable for charging into a blast furnace and retaining their form until smelted, by passing a stream *of such ore gradually and continuously through a furnace in which the ore is tumbled as it fuses in such manner as to bring about proper 'ag lomeration. Heretofore it has been found impractical to carry out such a process continuously for any considerable length of time by reason of the fused ore adhering to and fouling the interior of the smelting portion of the furnace to such an extent as to render the same practically in operative.

The conditions incident to carrying out such a process have rendered it practically impossible to keep the interior of the furnace clean by stoking and it has been found necessary to interrupt the operation of sintering at more or less frequent intervals and remove the clinker and slag manually; this being an exceedingly difficult operation and injurious to the lining of thefurnace. In the apparatus described these (li'iliculties have been overcome.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 1' designate suitable foundations upon which are mounted suitable roller supports or cradle mechanism, designated as a whole 2 and 2,

respectively, adapted to receive and support two tubular furnace body sections, 3 and 4, respectively. Both furnace sections are in olined somewhat from the horizontal, and the longer, receiving end sectionis elevated and ofiset with relation to the other section so that convenient access may be had to the interior of both sections through their proximate ends. The delivery end of the receiving section and the receiving end of the lower section extend -within a suitable housing .5 formin a com lete inclosure of the proximate en s of the except that the rear wall ofthis housing is omitted from the lower side of the upper section downwardly, as seen clearly'in Fi 2. A removable'closure 6 in the front side othe upper part of the housing affords access to the delivery end of the upper section 4.

Inorder to'conduct the material passing through" the upper section, to the lower section, and at "the same time to form a partition which in conjunction part of the housing 5 forms a substantially closed passage leading from one furnace section to the other, an inclined chute board 7 is provided, which is pivotally -mounted upon a transverse horizontal pivot shaft 8 extending through the side walls of the housing at a point just below and intermediate the length of the chute board. The

width of the chute board corresponds ap,-

proximately to the internal Width .of. the

chamber 5, its upper end when in normal position resting against the lower edge of the rear wall of the housing and through which the upper furnace section enters, and its lower en is provided with a narrowed extension 9 which extends a short distance within the receiving end of the lower furnace section. Just-in rear of the lower end of the chute board and just outside of the receiving end of the lower furnacesection is built up a re movable closure 10, preferably formed of fire brick,.-so'that the chute board in conjunction with the said removable closure 1-0 completely partitions the interior of the housing and, thus forms-a closed passage above the chute board leading from one fur-.

nace section to the other. The chute board is provided upon its upper side with a covermg of refractory material, and along one ed a of the board thisrefractory covering is built up or thickened to form a guard wall 7 which serves to deflect the ore flowing over the chute board toward the op osite side of the lower receiving section. oth sections of the furnace are rotated bodily so as to continuously tumble the ore and thus effect the feeding of the latter through the furnace sections. To this end each section, in addistance illustrated,"the two furnace sections are shown as actuated from the same source tion to its supporting rings 11 and 11. is pro' vided with a gear ring, as'12 and 12, which is engaged and driven by a suitable train of gear mechanism,- designat'ed as. a whole 13 and 13, respectively. In'the particular inof power and arranged to rotate at about the same speed, bnttheyma be independently erent'speeds if pre- In any event the driven and rotated at. di .ferred or-foundfdesirable. rate of rotation is comparatively slow.

- The receiving end of the up er section 4 terminates ina chamber formed in the base rnace body sections,

with the u per.

on whe f while its lower lap the chain therethrough.

by means of a of powera suitable opening in the side of thechamber portion 14 of a stack or chimney. Through referred to is arranged to extend a feed chute '15 whichis arranged to deliver at its lower end into the receiving end of the furnace sec tion. Asuitabl'e elevator mechanism designated as a whole 16 lifts the ore from a suit able boot or hopper 17' and discharges it into the receiving end of the chute it being understood that the rate of fe'ed to the furnace will be regulated by meansof this elevating apparatus.

The delivery end of the lower section projects within a chambered closure, designated as a whole 18; this closure being constructed to completely surround the terminal end of the furnace and being provided at its lower side with a delivery opening 19 through which the'ore is discharged. The interior of the closure 18 is lined with refractory material as well as the interiors of the two furnace sections and'iof the housing 5, as shown clearly in the sectional views. For convenience of femoval the structure 18 is mounted v.Desoribing now the mechanical scraper mechanism, 20 designates an endless chain. or cable which is trained around suitable guide pulleys or sheaves, as 21, 22, 23 and 24, and also; around a drive pulley 25, in such mannerthat its upper lap extends through the interior of the lower-furnace section 3 extends Within a trough 26 which is kept supplied with cooling water. The guide pulleys 21 and 22 are sodisposed as to guide the upper lap of the chain in longitudinal contact with the interior of the furnace at a point far enough above the lower center line of the furnace body to be out of the way of the body of orepassing therethrough; but nevertheless well below the upper boundary of the lower half of the furnace, so that the weight of the chain will aid in maintaining the latter-in wiping or dragging engagement with the inner surface of the furnace body. Suitable apertures 27-and 28 are formed through the removable closures l0 and 18, respectively,'for the passage of The chain 20 is provided at frequent intervals with scrapers 20', which may be conveniently cast upon the respective links which support them;

these scrapers in their most approved form being disk-shaped, concave at their front side and beveled at their peripheries so as to form continuous circular scraping edges 20 The drive sprocket is shown as actuated pair of bevel gears 29 and '30 the latter being mountedon a shaft carrying a sprocket wheel 31 which is. drivenby a 'spreeket chain leading ts any nitahle I In order to enhance the scrapmg effect of the. chain upon the interlor of the furnace, the drive sprocket is modnted at the M81 end of the furnace section'and accord chain will occur in the upper lap and accordingly permit the chain to rest with its full weight against the furnace wall, It is to be noted that the continuous rotation of the I furnace body during the time the chain is disks to the furnace wall.

likewise moving continuously therethrough, imparts a rotary or twisting movement to the chain, and this is a feature of advantage in that it insures the continual presentation of fresh or unclogged edges of the scraper Moreover it insures that these disks will wear uniformly and maintain their circular shape.

In the particular construction illustrated, I have shown the furnace as e uipped with mechanism "for introducing pu verized coal as a fuel, This fuel is introduced by means of a blast and to this end a blower 32 is provided near the delivery end of the furnace, with the delivery side of which, communicates a blast pipe 33 which leads to and enters through an aperture in the closure housing18, located about axially of the furnace body. A suitable hopper 34 is arranged to deliver a regulated quantity of fuel to the blower through a pipe 35; the feed openingbeing regulated by a slide valve 36 in said pipe.

The operation of the apparatus has been largely described in connection with the description of the mechanism. It may, however, be briefly recapitulated .as follows: The apparatus being in operation, the furnace sections rotating slowly and the blower injecting a suitable supply of fuel which burns within the furnace sections, ore is fed gradually and continuously into the upper end of the upper section and by therotation of the latter is fed steadily therethrough and delivered onto the chute board 7. By the latter the ore is conveyed to the lower section' and progresses through the latter in the same manner, being gradually raised in temperature until it partially fuses within the lower section and the steady rotation of the latter has the effect of agglomerating the ore into lumps. Meantime the scraper chain continuously wipes the interior of the lower furnace section, and in this connection it is to be noted that the lower furnace section is rotated in such direction as to tend to,carry the ore away from the chain. That is to say, the

' chain is located near the bottom of the descending side of the furnace. The clinker scraped from the interior of the furnace is chilled as soon as it encounters the Waterin the trough through which the lower lap of the chain travels, and this cooling together with the agitation effected by the travel of the chain through the trough, effectually dislodges the clinker from the the'scraper disks. I have found in practice that the apparatus may be operated continuously for any desired of said parts effects a length of time without interruption and without becoming in any wise impaired in its op eration. It will be understood, of course, i that the products of combustion pass through bothv furnace sections and escape through the stack. Whenever it becomes necessary to inspect or repair either of the furnace sections, this is readily accomplished; access to the upper section being had'through the removable closure or door 6 and access to, the

lower section by removing the closure 18 or tilting the chute board 7 downwardly upon its pivot. Inasmuch as the "most intense heat and fusing action occurs within the lower section, the latter-requires inspection and repair more often than the upper, and the arrangement of the apparatus enables this to be accomplishedconveniently.

It will, of course, be understood that the invention is not by any means confined to the exact construction and arrangement shown.

I claim as my invention:

' 1. In a sintering furnace vapparatus, the combination. of an upper tubular furnace body section movably supported to rotate upon its-longitudinal axis and inclined from the horizontal, a lower furnace body section having its receiving end arranged in proximity to, but offset below, the delivery end of the upper section and also movably mounted to rotate about its longitudinal axis and inclined from the horizontal, an upright housing with in the upper part of which the delivery end of the upper section extends and within the. lower part of which the receiving end of the lower section extends, a removable closure in the wall ofsaid housing opposite the delivery end of the upper section and through which access to the latter may be had, and an inclined movable chute board extending across the interior of said housing from a point below the delivery end of the upper section to the lower side of the'receiving section, and an opening in said housing opposite the receiving end of the lower section, through which access to the latter may be had when the chute board is moved. I

2 In a sintering furnace apparatus, the combination with a tubular furnace body section, movably supported to rotate upon its longitudinal axis, of a traveling scraper mechanism arranged to traverse the interiorof the furnace in bearing with the inner surface thereof.

3. In an apparatus for treating minerals, the combination with a movable furnace body, the interior of which is subject to adhesion thereto of the material treated, of a traveling scraper mechanism arranged to traverse the interior of the furnace and moving at an angle to the direction of movement of the furnace body whereby the combined movement progressive scraping of the furnace interior.

4. In an apparatus for treating minerals,

the scraper members of. Whichmove the combination with a rotatable furnace,

body,

'hesion thereto of the material treated, of a the mteriorof which is subject to adtraveling scraper mechanism arranged to traverse the interior of the furnace; and mov- I ing at an "angle tothe direction of movement of the furnace body whereby the combined movement of said parts effects a progressive scraping of the furnace interior. I

5'. In an apparatus for treating minerals,

the combination of a tubular rotatable fur the combination with a movable furnace a body provided at opposite ends with open- [outer part and furnace body, of

the combination with ings, of an endless scraper mechanism arranged to travel through said furnace body as to one of its laps and to travel around the outside of the furnace as to its other lap',

whereby it is continuously cooled as to its heated by passing through the furnace.

7. In an apparatus for the i combination with a tubular treating minerals, rotatable arranged to extend through said furnace in bearing with the interior of thelatter, and means for actuatingthe scraper mechanism and for rotating the furnace body. a

8. In an apparatus for treating minerals, a tubular internally circular furnace body mounted to rotate upon its longitudinal axis, of an endless furnace body as to one of itslaps and side of the furnace as to its other lap,

an endless traveling scraper Witnesses:

scraper-chain orcable mounted to travel series of scrapers acting upon the interior of the furnace body, and mechanism for simultaneously rotating the furnace and continuously movingsaid-scraper mechanism. a v

with a rotatable fur 9 In combination nace body of tubular form, an endless scraper mechanism arranged outand

through said furnace body and carrying a i to travel through said means for subjecting the outer: lap of "the scraper mechanism to the action of a liquid 7 coolin medium. i

10. n combination with a rotatable furnace body of tubular form an endless scraper mechanism arranged to travel through said ffurnace body as to one of its laps and outside of the furnace as to its other lap, and a liquid receptacle through which said outer lap is arranged to travel.

t 11. Inan' apparatus for treating minerals; I

the combination with "a tubular rotatable furnace body, of an anism arranged to travel through said furnace body consisting of a chain or cable and circular scrapers provided with peripheral scraping edges mounted at intervals apart upon said chain 'or cable and acting upon the interior ofsaid furnace body, andmeans for simultaneoulyactuating the scraper mechan-. ism and furnace body, whereby the interior of the furnace is progressively scraped and the scraper chain or cable is rotated upon its own tX1S by the en agement of the scrapers with the furnace Wall. i

' JOHN G. BERGQUIST.

EMILIE Ross, FRANK L. BELKNAPi endless scraper mech 

